Rough running on Zeniths

[pauldvern]

Yes, my last night in Amsterdam. Of to BBT in Antwerp tomorrow, Hessisch on Friday.

It's perfectly possible I have an air leak. The car ran OK on the way over but not it's old self yet. Blew out all the jets this evening so we'll see how it goes. Will try to pick up some gaskets from somewhere.


Cheers all,


Paul

[mycar]

To be fair, if you drove to Amsterdam the car must be on the good side of being bad.

[pauldvern]

Well yes, just hope it continues that way......

[roy mawbey]

Neils comment about a suspect plug lead or plug with an intermittent spark is sensible too. But also as said an airleak? Yep, to drive that distance means it can't be that bad. Was that idle air jet clear?

How old is your coil? Strange how they can cause problems if over 50 years old. The windings do seem to suffer over that long period. I changed mine a couple of years ago and it stopped the problem immediately. I thought they started the car and that was that. Seems ?? they can sort of slowly break down winding wise.

Roy

[pauldvern]

Hi Roy,

Blew out the jets but the idle screws are still doing very little. At the moment the car is running rather hot and subsequently the oil press is low. Saying that it is about 30c! I also found oil weeping out of the top of my pressure sender. Maybe I can find a new one at Hessisch my next destination. I am now near Antwerp for the BBT BBQ and convoy tomorrow. Hope for some cooler weather

[pauldvern]

Wouldn't hurt to do coil and leads too. I have been using them for 8 years. The coil wasn't new either.

[pauldvern]

Quick update.

I drove from Amsterdam to Antwerp with no troubles apart from the searing 31 deg heat. Went to the BBT pre convoy BBQ and then on the way back to the hotel after a fuel stop the car started backing and popping like Nov 5th! I spent all the rest of the evening with willing volunteers checking electrics with no results and had to go to bed with a broken car and the possibility of not getting to Hessisch. In the early morning I pulled off the R/H carb and took out all the jets, in the idle jet for cylinder No.1 I found a sticky orange thing that looked a bit like instant gasket! I managed to put everything back together before the off for the convoy while my friend packed up my room.

The car ran perfectly to Hessisch and back. I am now at Brussels airport with the 356 in posh parking while I go to work in Milan for 3 days. I'll be back Thursday morning for a hopefully pleasant poodle back to Brighton via the tunnel.

I think I need to clean out my fuel tank before another continental trip!


Paul

[marc500]

...doing up those carb bolts when in a rush is always fun...

[roy mawbey]

Paul,

Very pleased you found the problem and pleased you kept us fully informed. Those idle jets can cause so many problems on the road. As you have had that jet cover off a number of times change it for new when you get home. They can leak at the bottom. I once had a body of a mosquito in one of my jets,
made my car pop and bang!!

Enjoy the trip back.

Roy